Costa Rica: Solid squad could surprise in strong group

Costa Rica’s World Cup hopes were buoyed after a strong CONCACAF qualifying campaign, finishing ahead of rival Mexico. Los Ticos had five wins in 10 games. They ended the USA’s 12-game winning streak, a team record, beating the visiting Americans 3-1 in San Jose in September. Costa Rica’s Cup hopes dropped a little, however, when it was placed in one of the toughest groups in the tournament — Group D — with Italy, England and dark-horse finals contender Uruguay.

Costa Rica is known for its creativity with the ball and tough tackling without it. To advance, Costa Rica will need to sit deep on defense, protect the box and counterattack with such creative players as PSV’s Bryan Ruiz, Real Salt Lake’s Alvaro Saborio and young winger Joel Campbell, who is with Olympiacos on loan from Arsenal. It’s a long shot to advance, of course, but Costa Rica could get a few shock results if it remains committed to defending.

Key players

Bryan Ruiz, Forward

Ruiz is the captain of Costa Rica and, on paper at least, a devastating attacking force. He’s 6-2 and strong with a world-class first touch. He’s coming off a few disappointing seasons with Fulham that saw him struggle to adapt to Premier League soccer, but a recent move to Dutch side PSV led to him rediscovering his scoring touch. He needs to be confident and scoring goals if Costa Rica wants to shock the world in a tough group.

Celso Borges, Midfielder

Borges is a creative central midfielder who plays his club ball for AIK in Sweden. Borges has shown a knack for scoring in big moments and isn’t afraid to unleash a shot from anywhere inside 40 yards. Borges, 25, could be a breakout player in this World Cup if he can find space to work and remains committed to playing defense (never a sure thing).

Bryan Oviedo, Defender/midfielder

Oviedo plays left back and left wing at the club level for Roberto Martinez at Everton in the English Premier League, and many thought his chances for a World Cup were over when he suffered a gruesome injury, breaking his tibia and fibia in his leg in January. But Oviedo seems to have recovered quickly, sending out a picture of himself on an exercise bike three weeks after the injury. He’s targeting a World Cup return, and it might happen. He scored the winning goal against Manchester United, Everton’s first win at Old Trafford in 21 years.

(USA TODAY Sports)

About the team

Coach: Jorge Luis Pinto

Pinto is a Colombia native who has had a long managing career in Costa Rica, Colombia and Peru. Pinto managed Costa Rica in 2004-05 and found little success, but he was rehired in 2011 and seems to be finding his groove with a young team.

How they qualified: Finished second in CONCACAF hexagonal.

Number of appearances: 4

Best result: Round of 16 in 1990. Costa Rica beat Sweden and Scotland to reach the knockout rounds in an impressive World Cup debut under Bora Milutinovic. The team lost to Czechoslovakia 4-1 in the round of 16. Milutinovic said in December he likes Costa Rica’s chances against England in Group D. “I think Costa Rica have the mentality to beat England. In fact, I know they do because of what happened with my side in 1990,” he said. “Because you never know, because you can never predict what will happen, this is why football is the greatest sport.”

FIFA world ranking: No. 34

Fast fact: Costa Rica has qualified for four World Cups, more than any other Central American nation.

Social media star: Oviedo (@Bryan_Oviedo) is showing fans his road to recovery on Twitter. Oviedo posted a video of himself in mid-April running side to side kicking a ball.